Okorocha accuses Oshiomhole and Yakubu of collusion

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has accused the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and some other leaders of working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to frustrate his efforts to receive his certificate of return.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Oshiomhole said: “I believe the INEC chairman is up to a game with the chairman of the APC who is being used to frustrate my coming to the Senate and this is politically motivated.”

“I’ve given enough time that INEC might correct itself and do the needful and issue me my certificate of return but to no avail,” he added.

Okorocha further alleged that INEC commissioner, Festus Okoye, is also being used against him as a hatchet man.

“I wonder what they want to do with the certificate, if they don’t give it to me, who will they give it to? Maybe they will give it to Festus Okoye because he is from my Senatorial zone but what they are doing is presenting INEC as a lying organization and that is dangerous for our democracy because, as it stands right now, the image of INEC is bastardized,” Okorocha said.

Backstory: Okorocha was declared the winner of the 2019 senatorial election in Imo West, However, INEC withdrew his certificate of return following a complaint by Francis Ibeawuchi, the returning officer for the election, who stated that he had declared Okorocha winner under duress.

The matter has since been taken to court, however, the case has suffered two major setbacks since then. Read about them here and here.